Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/417885
Curator Zoë Ryan helms the second Istanbul Design Biennial (through December 14), whose theme, "The Future Is Not What It Used To Be," explores notions of design and how it relates to daily life. Ryan selected more than 50 projects from 800 international submissions that examined how a reinterpretation of history can act as a catalyst for change. The native Brit is the chair and curator of architecture and design at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she organized the first retrospective on Studio Gang Architects, the renowned Chicago firm whose Aqua Tower is the tallest building in the world to be designed by a woman. Ryan has also authored and edited several influential books, including the first in-depth publication on Chicagoan architect Bertrand Goldberg. Next fall, she will co-curate a survey of architect David Adjaye. ZOË RYAN Curator, Istanbul Design Biennial "LONDON IS MY FAVORITE CITY. It's where I grew up and will always be a special place for me. But I've really enjoyed getting to know Istanbul through its design talent. Like London, it's a city constantly in flux, which keeps it interesting." "ITALIAN DESIGN DUO Formafantasma, is definitely one to watch. Deftly bridging craft with industry and creating objects that question our rituals and traditions, their designs are always beautifully executed and defy expectation." "WITH PROJECTS SUCH AS the tent for the Frieze Art Fair in New York and the Kukje Gallery in Seoul, New York-based firm SO-IL is making a name for itself with projects that rethink conventional spaces for art." "LONDON IS MY FAVORITE CITY It' h I g d ill SO-IL's design for the Shrem Museum of Art in Davis, California, slated to open in 2016 PORTRAIT BY CYNTHIA LYNN, COURTESY OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO; RENDERING COURTESY OF SO-IL; NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON; FORMAFANTASMA The National Gallery in London Formafantasma's Still, 2014 AHEAD OF THE CURVE Biennials are where some of the most provocative art is showcased and prominent commissions are revealed. Those tasked with overseeing these prestigious cultural events work hard to blaze the trail—and stay ahead of the curve. Writer Samantha Tse catches up with three curators whose biennials received critical acclaim this year to talk about what's catching their eye and what they're working on next. 92 CULTURED